Carmelo Anthony hints that free agent decision will come down between Lakers and Knicks

Carmelo Anthony can make more money — about $33 million more — with the Knicks, but his best chance at winning a title may come outside of New York. (Elise Amendola/AP)

BALTIMORE — Carmelo Anthony reiterated that he wants it all: He wants to be a Knick for life, yet he also wants NBA teams — the Lakers, really — to court him when he becomes a free agent on July 1.

The Melo-drama Part II is under way in the wake of Anthony confirming that he plans to opt out of his contract next summer and become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. And for the first time, Anthony hinted that it is a two-team race between the Knicks and Lakers.

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When asked about the long-held belief that the Lakers would pursue him, Anthony said: "What other team would they say? I don't think they would say any other team. If you look at situations, that's the only team that they probably would say."

The Lakers will have cap space, and Anthony is close to Kobe Bryant. Also, Anthony owns a home in Los Angeles, and his wife, La La, is a working actress in Hollywood. Needless to say, if Anthony leaves the Knicks, it won't be for a small market team.

"I'm in New York," he said on Thursday. "Like I said, this is not something that I want to keep going on. At the end of the day, I don't want to go anywhere, I don't plan on going anywhere. But when that time comes, I'll deal with that situation."

Mike Woodson is confident that Anthony will re-sign, saying "I don't see him leaving. That's just my thought." Woodson, however, did admit that the free agent landscape has changed in recent years with high-profile players forming alliances with other All-Stars. LeBron James left Cleveland to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

The most stunning example was Dwight Howard bucking conventional wisdom and leaving the Lakers in order to sign with the Houston Rockets in July.

"It's different," Woodson said. "The Lakers franchise is totally different from any other franchise, them and the Celtics based on history, what they've done. Hell if I was a Laker I don't know if I would ever have left the Lakers because of what they'd done over the years.

"It has changed. Players are always looking for something better. That's just signs of the times. It's different. It's what it is, but hey everybody, Melo, if he's going to test it, he's got to test it. That's on him. But at this point he's got to worry about this season and this season only because that's what's staring him in the face."

Carmelo Anthony says he doesn’t ‘sit back and ponder’ his free agency every day. (Mark Bonifacio/New York Daily News)

The Knicks can offer Anthony an extension in February but by waiting until July 1, Anthony would be in position to receive a more lucrative deal. Also, by re-signing with the Knicks, Anthony could earn in excess of $33 million more than any other team can offer.

Yet Anthony is keeping his options open and giving himself wiggle room in case the Knicks bottom out this season. Ultimately, Anthony may have to decide between taking less money to improve his chances of winning an NBA title. That's another reason why Anthony intends to become a free agent next summer.

"I've never had before," Anthony said of being a free agent. "And I think as a player, guys would like to explore that. Guys would like to have that situation and just see what it's about. It doesn't mean that just because somebody wants to be that that they're going to leave. Me leaving would never come across in my mind. It was just an experience that I thought would be an experience I'd want to experience.

"This is not something that I'm thinking about or I sit back and ponder on every day. When that time comes I'll deal with it."